Final election count

Viet Nam News HARARE — Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former ally of Robert Mugabe, narrowly won the country’s landmark election, results showed early on Friday, in an outcome set to fuel fraud allegations as security forces patrolled the streets to prevent protests. Mnangagwa won 50.8 per cent of the vote, ahead of Nelson Chamisa of the opposition MDC party on 44.3 per cent, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said. "Mnangagwa, Emmerson Dambudzo, of ZANU-PF party is therefore duly declared elected president of the Republic of Zimbabwe," announced ZEC chair Priscilla Chigumba. Mnangagwa won by the smallest of margins, after needing more than 50 per cent of the vote to secure victory without a second-round run-off. He quickly took to Twitter to say he was "humbled" to have won the election, hailing it as a "new beginning" for the country. Zimbabwe was braced for public reaction to the election results – the first since last year’s ousting of … [Read more...] about Mnangagwa wins Zimbabwe’s first post-Mugabe election

Viet Nam News LOS ANGELES — Voters headed to the polls in eight US states for key primary elections Tuesday, with all eyes on California, where the outcome could swing the balance of power in Congress. Democrats in the country’s most populous state are battling to ensure they come out on top in several congressional districts that voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. However, given the state’s unusual election system in which the two top vote-getters move on to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation, Democrats fear they may give Republicans the upper hand in some districts where they have a glut of candidates. Democrats splitting vote? “The worry is that with so many enthusiastic Democrats running for Congress, the Democrats will split up the Democratic vote and you’ll end up with one or two Republicans in the top two slots,” said Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the … [Read more...] about Key US primary elections with California in spotlight

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)"We have won," Mr. Viktor Orban told cheering supporters after preliminary results were released. "Hungary has won a great victory." "Dear friends, there's a big battle behind us, we secured a historic victory, we got a chance, we created a chance for us to defend Hungary," he added. With more than 95.1 percent of votes counted, his Fidesz Party has won 48.86 percent of the vote, the National Election Office said, putting the 55-year-old Prime Minister on track for a third consecutive term in office. Hungary's Nationalist Jobbik party came in a distant second with roughly 20 percent of the vote and the Socialist Party received 12 percent. Two other parties, the Democratic Coalition and the green Politics Can Be Different, are expected to surpass the five percent threshold and will join the legislative body. The Parliamentary elections in Hungary were closely monitored across Europe. Final election … [Read more...] about Hungary’s Viktor Orban declares victory

The vote, which echoes the rise of populism in Europe and the United States, will shape the future of Europe. A victory for "out" could unleash turmoil on financial markets. "It's very close; nobody knows what's going to happen," Prime Minister David Cameron told Wednesday's Financial Times, with opinion polls showing the rival camps neck and neck. Thursday's vote will take place a week after the murder of ardently pro-EU lawmaker Jo Cox shocked the country, raising questions about the tone of an increasingly bitter campaign. Much of the debate has boiled down to two issues: the economy and immigration. The City of London, the International Monetary Fund and the majority of British business leaders back Cameron and his Remain camp's stance that to leave the EU would plunge Britain into recession, costing jobs and raising prices. Those supporting a "Brexit" have struck a chord with many voters by saying Britain would regain control of immigration if it cut itself loose from a bloc … [Read more...] about On eve of fateful British EU referendum, rivals race for final votes

The Hanoi Times - When o­ne sees Pham Viet Dinh’s long fingers rhythmically working with a needle and thread, it’s hard to believe that he is already 77 years old. The man looks younger and stronger than his age with his bright eyes, close-cropped snow-white hair and long white beard. Dinh first began embroidery when he was 14. He was born in 1932 in Quat Dong village, Thuong Tin district, former Ha Tay province (now in Ha Noi) as o­ne of seven children in a family well-known in the region for their four generations of skilled embroidery craft. Life’s passion "I was dreaming about green and red stitches before I learnt my A, B, Cs," Dinh recalls with a smile. His first clumsy attempt at sewing left him with bleeding fingertips. But he didn’t give up. "I understand any job is difficult and requires patience," he says. "I was determined to learn simply because I love it."Like many fellow villagers, he traces his ancestry back to Le Cong Hanh, the … [Read more...] about Old artisan preserves the soul of embroidery

Over VND2 trillion allocated to cope with drought, salinity The financial support will be extracted from unused resources garnered from selling state shares last year. The PM asked the Ministry of Finance to collaborate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly with a plan for the use of the funds. The MARD and relevant provincial People's Committees will supervise the disbursement of funds. Heroin traffickers sentenced to death The People's Court in the northern province of Bắc Ninh yesterday sentenced nine people to death for heroin trafficking in the largest case of its kind in Việt Nam. At the end of a four-day trial, the 34-year-old drug lord, Tráng A Tàng and eight other ring members were convicted of trafficking nearly 1,800 cakes of heroin, or about 630kg, and over 550 methamphetamine pills. The eight others accused were Tráng A Nếnh, Giàng A Chờ, Giàng A Nhừ, Sùng A Lánh, Sồng A Nếnh, Tráng A Mùa, Vũ Văn … [Read more...] about Social News 23/9

Danang applies IT in administrative reform Danang City led Vietnamese provinces and cities in Provincial Administrative Reform (PAR Index) in 2015 for the fifth consecutive time. Danang also topped the Public Administration Performance Index ranking over the past five years. These results are attributable to the application of IT. The “single window” section is located on the first floor on the headquarters of the Danang City’s People’s Committee, where citizens and representatives of organizations are instructed on how to proceed with their documents. There are computerized screens for citizens to use to search information and rate their satisfaction over the quality of public administration. Tran Hai from Huu Hai Company of Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Hai Chau district, said: "Everything is good, procedures are quick and simple. Full instructions are given. For example, if I want to work with the Department of Planning and Investment, or the Department of … [Read more...] about Social News 5/9

Beauties gear up for Miss Ocean Vietnam The contest seeks Vietnamese contestants aged between 18 and 26 with an average height of 1.65m who are based in Vietnam or overseas. According to fashion designer Vo Viet Chung, who is also head of the organizing committee, the contest will be made an annual event with the goal of raising people’s awareness on environment protection of the nation’s seas and to promote the local tourism industry. Qualification rounds will take place in Hanoi on April 20 and in HCMC on April 25. The semi-final round will be held in HCMC on May 1 to find 35 finalists for the coronation night at Muine Resort in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan on May 12. The winner will take home a prize of VND400 million and a coral-shaped crown worth VND1.6 billion. She will join activities of the Blue Ocean World project initiated by Chung. There are extra titles for Miss Ao Dai (Vietnam’s long dress), Miss Talent, Miss Bikini, Miss … [Read more...] about Art & Entertainment News Headlines 20/2

Gov't suspends, fines newspaper $6,200 The Authority of Press under the Ministry of Information and Communications ordered a three-month suspension of Thế Giới Tiếp Thị (Marketing World), a supplement of Nông Thôn Ngày Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper, for its violations in two articles. The suspension took effect last Saturday, following a proposal by Nông Thôn Ngày Nay newspaper to consolidate staff and rebuild the paper publishing process to avoid mistakes. The newspaper was also subjected to an administrative punishment of VNĐ140 million (US$6,200). RoK to send fire engines to Vietnam Aside from Vietnam, the other countries to receive equipment are Cambodia, the Philippines, Mongolia and Laos. The MPSS will spend 77,600 USD to repair the vehicles as well as provide accompanying equipment and personnel training. The RoK has sent fire engines to developing countries since 2005, with 166 having been shipped to 11 countries so far. Quang Binh urged to support people affected by … [Read more...] about Social News 16/5

Storm Nari: economic loss nears 16 trillion VND The figures were provided by the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and storm-struck localities. Quang Binh province was hardest hit as the disaster claimed 12 lives, injured 53 others, and caused economic damage of 300 billion VND in the locality. In the meantime, the central provinces are making efforts to surmount the storm consequences and restore production. As by October 22, the “Golden Heart” fund, run by Lao Dong newspaper, has raised nearly 2 billion VND to support Nari victims. Earlier, the Vietnam Red Cross Society decided to give emergency aid relief worth 2 billion VND in cash and kinds to three central provinces and city hardest hit by Nari, namely Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces and Da Nang city Vietnamese experts join emission assessment training course Vietnamese experts are among 32 participants from 21 signatory countries to the Kyoto Protocol taking part in a … [Read more...] about Storm Nari causes losses of $760 million for VN